Memories are made at the Parade of Lights

Photo by Donna Ritchie

Canyon Lakers and their guests gathered at waterfront homes and parks on Saturday for the Yacht Club’s annual Parade of Lights. Sixteen boats participated this year.

The parade traveled from the East Bay through the tunnel and around the main lake to its final destination at Holiday Harbor Park where the awards were presented.

Nancy and Ted Horton won the Commodore’s award and $500. Their “Saving Butterflies” is a tribute to the monarch butterfly. As a member of the Board of Audubon International, Ted has long championed “Monarchs in the Rough,” a program to plant milkweed plants on golf courses to increase the monarch butterfly population which has been in serious decline. Ted and Nancy donated their winnings to Helping Hands, an organization that helps those in need locally.

All parade entrants will receive a dash plate. The first, second and third place winners in each category will receive a cash prize and a personalized plaque.

The winners are as follows:

Commodore’s award: Saving Butterflies by Ted and Nancy Horton

1st place pontoon: Polar Express by Diann and Brian Oltman
2nd place pontoon: Gingerbread House by Robert Mora and Lainie Cooney
3rd place pontoon: Santa’s Sleigh by the Cameron family

1st place ski: Santa’s Coming by Donna and Ron Kupke
2nd place ski: Ho! Ho! Ho! Who Needs Snow by the Hunter/Morey family

1st place first-timer: Penguins by Dennis Reams

1st place club: Who Let the Dogs Out by Donna Lovejoy and Perry Beggs of the Family Matters Club
2nd place club: Yellow Submarine by the Pickleball Club
3rd place club: Iceberg Polar by Julie and Mike Aguirre of the Jr. Women’s Club

1st place Yacht Club entry: Rudolph by Jennifer and Dave Dain